EP0185396B1 - Security document incorporating a security thread, and process for manufacturing and checking the authenticity of the security document - Google Patents

Security document incorporating a security thread, and process for manufacturing and checking the authenticity of the security document Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0185396B1
EP0185396B1 EP85116406A EP85116406A EP0185396B1 EP 0185396 B1 EP0185396 B1 EP 0185396B1 EP 85116406 A EP85116406 A EP 85116406A EP 85116406 A EP85116406 A EP 85116406A EP 0185396 B1 EP0185396 B1 EP 0185396B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
thread
security
security document
regions
threads
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP85116406A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0185396A2 (en
EP0185396A3 (en
Inventor
Wittich Dr. Dipl.-Phys. Kaule
Gerhard Dr. Dipl.-Chem. Schwenk
Jürgen Dr. Dipl.-Chem. Moll
G. Dr. Dipl.-Phys. Stenzel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GAO Gesellschaft fuer Automation und Organisation mbH
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GAO Gesellschaft fuer Automation und Organisation mbH
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Publication date
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Priority to AT85116406T priority Critical patent/ATE55433T1/en
Publication of EP0185396A2 publication Critical patent/EP0185396A2/en
Publication of EP0185396A3 publication Critical patent/EP0185396A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0185396B1 publication Critical patent/EP0185396B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21HPULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H21/00Non-fibrous material added to the pulp, characterised by its function, form or properties; Paper-impregnating or coating material, characterised by its function, form or properties
    • D21H21/14Non-fibrous material added to the pulp, characterised by its function, form or properties; Paper-impregnating or coating material, characterised by its function, form or properties characterised by function or properties in or on the paper
    • D21H21/40Agents facilitating proof of genuineness or preventing fraudulent alteration, e.g. for security paper
    • D21H21/44Latent security elements, i.e. detectable or becoming apparent only by use of special verification or tampering devices or methods
    • D21H21/48Elements suited for physical verification, e.g. by irradiation
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42DBOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/355Security threads
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06KGRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/08Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
    • G06K19/10Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07DHANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/04Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07DHANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/06Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using wave or particle radiation
    • G07D7/12Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07DHANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/06Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using wave or particle radiation
    • G07D7/12Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
    • G07D7/121Apparatus characterised by sensor details
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S283/00Printed matter
    • Y10S283/904Credit card
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10S428/914Transfer or decalcomania
    • Y10S428/915Fraud or tamper detecting

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a security document with a security thread embedded in the inside of the document, which is visually recognizable in reflected and transmitted light and has certain physical properties, and methods for producing and checking the security document and the security thread.
  • security documents such as To equip securities, ID cards etc. with so-called security threads.
  • these security threads are introduced into the interior of the paper sheet during the sheet formation process.
  • the thread is usually embedded so that it is completely surrounded by paper fibers (GB-A-8242 (1839), DE-U-72 18 681).
  • thermoplastic material with a melting point below 160 ° C are used. Because during the manufacture of the paper, e.g. When drying, these temperatures are reached, these thermoplastics melt, and the nets are reduced to individual islands made of thermoplastic material, which are firmly connected to the paper substance.
  • the paper In order to determine the authenticity of a security equipped with a security thread, the paper is usually checked for the presence and location of the security thread in reflected and transmitted light. Glued-on or painted-on security threads can be distinguished very well from real security threads introduced during paper production.
  • Such security threads are e.g. Threads with certain magnetic, electrical or fluorescent properties (DE-C-16 96 245, US-A-2,143,406).
  • DE-A-27 54 267 discloses a security paper with a security thread embedded therein which, in addition to a magnetic material, contains at least one further substance which can also be machine-checked, such as e.g. a luminescent material, an X-ray absorbent or a metal. These different properties can then be determined in tests that can be carried out independently of one another. These security features can be superimposed and attached in a certain pattern along the security fader.
  • a security thread with a visually verifiable authenticity feature is known from EP-A-0 037 507.
  • This known security thread is generated by pulling a metal or plastic thread through a calibration tool, the shape of the calibration tool giving the thread a cross-sectional shape and surface corrugation typical of the tool. Using these contours, the thread can be identified after the security thread has been embedded in the document and the authenticity of the document can thus be ascertained.
  • the checking of the known security documents with security threads is therefore usually directed to a visual and / or machine check, in which it is clarified whether a security thread is stored at all and, if necessary, in a second step whether this also has the required physical properties.
  • security threads should by definition already be able to be localized without aids and, if necessary, can be relatively easily removed from the security by destroying it, they are particularly exposed to analysis attacks.
  • the security thread should therefore, in addition to a special physical property and the complex embedding in the paper, if possible also be complex to produce and difficult to counterfeit for counterfeiters. Despite this requirement, nothing should stand in the way of the economical industrial production of such security threads.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to create a security document with a security thread which, although it can be economically produced in large quantities industrially, can be checked in addition to the usual testing options with regard to further thread-specific criteria, so that counterfeiting is made more difficult for counterfeiters .
  • the invention is based on the idea of creating a security thread, the properties of which are firmly connected to the thread structure and generation, so that a counterfeiter when trying to emulate it is forced to resort to the complex, special manufacturing technologies for producing threads.
  • the thread according to the invention has in one preferred embodiment at least three strips running along the thread, arranged exactly parallel to one another, which differ in their physical behavior, such as in their color, their fluorescent or magnetic properties.
  • a document with such a security thread is characterized by a high level of security against counterfeiting, since the areas of the security thread with the different physical properties are locally separated from one another in a specific geometric assignment.
  • the individual areas are parallel to the surface of the document and can thus be individually detected in serial order by scanning along a surface of the document and the distance between the individual areas is an exact size that runs constantly over the entire thread, can now also be used the physical properties, e.g. the width of the individual areas and the distances from each other serve as test criteria that can be measured.
  • the additional effort required on the part of the counterfeiter can be increased to a multiple if the additional effort is justifiable on the part of the testing device.
  • Plastic threads are preferably used for the security paper according to the invention, which are produced by the coextrusion technique known from plastics processing. This technology allows a single thread consisting of several components to be produced, the individual components lying next to one another and this structure remaining exactly constant in its geometry over the entire length of the thread.
  • the individual components preferably consist of the same plastic material in order to prevent crimping of the thread thus produced.
  • additives the individual components can be given certain physical properties.
  • additives can be dyes, fluorescent substances, particles with electrical or magnetic properties, etc.
  • the advantage of coextrusion technology is that a single thread can be produced here, even though its volume is interspersed with various additives that e.g. give certain colors and / or other physical properties.
  • the additives that can be introduced into the volume in correspondingly high concentrations are also specifically assigned to certain volume ranges.
  • Such a security thread can therefore always be unambiguously both from the geometric structure and from the signal yield, e.g. from distinguish locally coated threads.
  • An alternative to the coextrusion technique is to first produce separately extruded individual threads with the specific physical properties and to connect them to one another before insertion into the paper or document. If all the individual threads are made of plastic, they could - provided that the melting points of the plastic materials do not vary too much - could also be firmly connected to one another under heat and pressure in a special laminating system.
  • the threads according to the invention are preferably introduced into a document in such a way that they are at least partially directly visually visible.
  • the thread insertion into the pulp can be controlled during manufacture so that the thread comes to lie alternately on the surface of the finished sheet.
  • a corresponding method is described in DE-C-341 970.
  • Other processes that have the same goal are described in the above-cited DE-A-27 43 019.
  • the thread is preferably arranged under a transparent cover layer.
  • FIG. 1 shows a security document 1 in the form of a banknote which has a printed image 2 and an unprinted so-called white field 3, into which a watermark is usually introduced.
  • a security thread 4 is embedded in the interior of the document and runs parallel to the shorter edge of the banknote.
  • the security thread has a plurality of regions which extend homogeneously over the entire length of the thread and which differ in their physical behavior.
  • FIG. 2 shows a possible cross-sectional shape of a thread 4 embedded in a security 5 (section line 2-2 of FIG. 1).
  • the thread consists of three components A, B and C, which differ in their physical properties, e.g. differ with regard to their spectral reflectance or transmission properties, fluorescent and / or magnetic properties.
  • Components A, B, C are in the volume of the security thread, i.e. in a concentration that cannot be reproduced by printing technology. They are arranged in sharply demarcated longitudinally parallel areas in a clear and precisely defined correlation to one another.
  • Such threads can preferably be produced using the coextrusion technique known from plastics technology (“synthetic fibers” Bela v. Falkai, Verlag Chemie 1982, pages 124-126).
  • an extruder head is schematically shown for producing a tricomponent thread shown in FIG. 2.
  • the extruder head 7 is supplied with different plastic materials 8, 9, 10 which are separated by partitions 11 and which are mixed with different additives.
  • the plastic materials are in the respective storage containers heated to the respective melting temperature in the liquid state. Under pressure, they are pressed simultaneously from the individual nozzle areas and melted together in the contact area.
  • the end product is a single thread which, depending on the profile of the outlet nozzle, e.g. has a rectangular or oval cross section and in the present example consists of three different components which are arranged next to one another.
  • Polymer partners are preferably used for the production of bicomponent and multicomponent threads with side-by-side arrangement, which have the same melt viscosity at the temperature required for the coextrusion, and which have such a high affinity that the halving of the two cross-section shafts is ensured without additional measures.
  • the fillers, dyes, magnetic, metal pigments and / or soluble dyes are already added to the base materials for such a thread in order to give the individual components the desired physical properties.
  • the multicomponent thread which then forms directly on the nozzle head, is solidified by a suitable withdrawal speed of the thread from the nozzle head and a subsequent cooling so that no distortions occur in the pattern and the components cannot flow into one another.
  • the take-off speed depends on the type of polymer, the extrusion temperature, the type of nozzle geometry etc. and can be selected appropriately by varying these parameters accordingly.
  • the multi-component thread can also subsequently be softened again by targeted heating or the cooling can be interrupted at a certain stage in such a way that it changes into other cross-sectional shapes, e.g. starting from an oval cross-section with a low thickness / width ratio, can be deformed into a flat band with an extreme thickness / width ratio by calendering.
  • FIGS. 4a-e Some advantageous embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4a-e.
  • Components A and B are colored differently and had different magnetic or fluorescent properties.
  • FIG. 4b shows a three-component thread in which the edge strips have the same physical properties.
  • the middle strip is equipped with a physical property that is measurably contrasting with the edge strips.
  • Such an ABA coding can also be used in addition to the properties that can be measured colors that the areas are also visually distinguishable.
  • the coloring of the areas can coincide with the arrangement of the physical properties, so that with ABA coding, for example, the colors Color 1 / Color 2 / Color 1 are available.
  • the visually recognizable coloring does not necessarily have to match the physical marking. A deviation from this is even particularly recommendable if the physical properties themselves cannot be checked visually, such as, for example, magnetic, electrically conductive, invisibly fluorescent or the like. A counterfeiter would assume the same physical properties behind the same colors and would simulate the thread accordingly.
  • 4c shows a three-component thread in which all three components differ in their physical behavior.
  • the individual components in addition to the colored design of the thread, it is possible to provide the individual components with properties that are not visually visible, in order to provide it with a further machine-checkable coding.
  • a thread is shown, the outer components of which consist of two layers, e.g. Assemble differently colored plastic layers A and C. If component A is e.g. red, component B white and component C colored yellow, the thread shows the color coding red-white-yellow or vice versa when viewed in incident light. When viewed in transmitted light, however, the color coding is orange-white-orange.
  • FIG. 4e shows a thread structure in which the inner component B has a circular cross section.
  • Component B flows into the extruder outlet via an annular nozzle.
  • the inflow nozzle movable for the middle component. Does this lead e.g. during the extrusion process a pendulum movement, the inner component of the security thread 12 describes a serpentine line.
  • An alternative to the coextrusion technique is to first produce several individual threads and then combine them to form a multi-component thread. It is also possible in this way to produce threads which have the abovementioned properties with regard to the geometric dimensions and the different physical behavior and are therefore suitable for producing a security paper according to the invention.
  • extruded plastic threads are preferably used for the individual threads, which are mixed with certain fillers, dyes, magnetic metal pigments and / or soluble dyes depending on the edition.
  • certain fillers, dyes, magnetic metal pigments and / or soluble dyes depending on the edition.
  • coextrusion technique there are a multitude of possible combinations with regard to the composition of the threads from several differently prepared individual threads. Structures as shown in Fig. 4a-d are also possible with this manufacturing technique.
  • FIG. 5 shows a device by means of which a plurality of multi-component threads consisting of different individual threads can be produced at the same time.
  • the different colored components of the security thread to be produced are produced as individual threads 13, 14 and 15 with a round or oval cross section separately by extrusion and wound on spools. Merging the threads into e.g. Multi-colored tape is carried out in such a way that the individual threads are pulled through guide strips 16 and fixed on a carrier film 17, an endless belt running over deflection rollers 18, by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive. It is important that the individual threads run parallel to the carrier film and are touchingly fixed on it.
  • connection of the individual threads to form a multicolored band is carried out by lamination in a corresponding laminating device 20 at elevated temperature, the various individual thread sets lying next to one another being insulated from one another by separating bands 19 with a significantly higher softening point than the multicomponent security threads to be produced.
  • the carrier film also has to have the same thermal properties as the separating tapes. Security threads produced in this way can be removed from the carrier film after lamination and wound up separately.
  • Plastics with a high softening point and low affinity for the individual threads used such as e.g. Teflon @ Hostafan, 5 etc.
  • the threads are preferably made from polymers that have a high affinity for one another and are characterized by a low softening point, such as e.g. Copolymers based on polyamides, acrylates and polyethylenes.
  • the individual threads are made of non-laminatable materials, it is possible to provide these threads or at least the threads to come later to be inside with an adhesive layer and then connect them to one another.
  • the polymer blend e.g. co-polymerized polyamide "Akulon °" from Akzoplastiks is divided into three extruders and the granules are melted.
  • the melts of the later external components of the thread are mixed with three percent by weight of europium tris (dibenzoylmethane) in such a way that it dissolves in the polyamide melt and is thus homogeneously distributed therein.
  • the individual thread segments can be dyed with visible dyes or pigments, it only being necessary to ensure that the dye used is transparent in the region of the fluorescence emission line.
  • the procedure is as described in Example 1, except that in this case two segments of the thread are equipped with different feature substances.
  • the first coding is e.g. 3% Nile blue from the series of oxazine dyes (Eastmen, Flukka) and as a second coding component Lumilux ° CDEK80 / 24 from Riedel de Haen in a concentration of 4%.
  • the two edge strips are mixed with a weight percent of europium tris (thenoyltrifluracetone) and the middle strip with five weight percent Lumogen ® light yellow LT (BASF). After the extrusion, a thread is obtained which has a strong yellow fluorescence over the entire width under UV illumination. The red fluorescence of the two edge strips is not perceived by the human eye, but can be detected by an appropriate sensor.
  • Example 2 The procedure is as described in Example 1, but instead of the admixed europium compound, five percent by weight magnetic pigment No. 8200 from Bayer is used, which is added to the polymer mixtures which supply the two outer extruder nozzles.
  • a multi-component thread is thus obtained, the outer edge strips of which are magnetic.
  • the individual thread segments can also be colored with visible dyes or pigments.
  • the edge strips of a three-component thread with a fluorescent substance which, when excited by UV, has an emission in the visual range which lies exactly in the excitation spectrum of the fluorescent substances of the central strip, but whose emission e.g. is measurable in the IR range.
  • care must be taken to ensure that, in addition to the UV light required for fluorescence excitation, any extraneous light that could contribute to the excitation of the median strips is avoided, so that the central region of the security thread is only irradiated with light that is generated by the marginal strips .
  • a fluorescence emission in the median strip can only be stimulated by the edge strips in such a test, which is a confirmation of the required material composition or the desired fluorescence properties of the security thread.
  • coextruded threads are distinguished by a very good optical coupling between the individual components, that these threads are particularly suitable for realizing the above-mentioned examples.
  • security threads produced in another way this intimate coupling is missing, which means that even if the correct Lumiphore is used, the expected success is not achieved.
  • the security document according to the invention (banknote, ID card or the like) can be checked for authenticity or originality in many ways with regard to the security thread, as already indicated.
  • Example 6 shows, in schematic form, a preferred exemplary embodiment of a test device with which a test of the thread described in Example 1 is possible.
  • it is a three-component thread, the edge strips of which contain europium-activated chelates and the middle zone of which is not active.
  • the document 37 (banknote) containing the security thread 4 and passed the test device at a constant speed is illuminated by two UV tube lamps 38 with black glass bulbs (e.g. Sylvania F4T5BLB), the activated zones of the security thread being excited to luminescence.
  • the reflectors 39 serve to amplify the stimulating radiation intensity and to shield the lamp radiation from the further components 40-42.
  • the detection system thus has a resolution of approximately 0.1 mm in the direction of movement of the sample.
  • the luminescent radiation of the security thread falls through a narrow-band optical filter (interference filter) 41.
  • an interference filter with its pass band from 605 nm to 625 nm and a blocking of the spectral border areas from 200 nm to 1200 nm, the sensitivity of the optical arrangement becomes narrow of the Europium emission line, so that the sensitivity to ambient light is largely eliminated.
  • FIG. 7 shows the time profile of this emission intensity received in the sensor 42.
  • the emission of a security thread which occurs when passing through the test device and is, for example, 0.8 mm wide and whose 0.2 mm wide edge zones (europium chelate) is detected.
  • the time interval t of the two "peaks" is 0.6 mm divided by the running speed of the banknote.
  • the special physical (fluorescent) properties as well as the targeted, local presence of these properties in certain areas and the distance between these areas serve as parameters for the proof of the authenticity of the security threads.
  • the excitation light source or the detector optics must be adapted to the respective special fluorescence properties.
  • the document first passes through a magnetization station and is then guided past a magnetic head.
  • This magnetic head which is constructed similarly to a tape magnetic head, has a gap width of approx. 0.05 mm. A higher signal is obtained with such a magnetic head than with original sound heads that have a gap ten times smaller.
  • a document with the embedded security thread is guided past the magnetic head, preferably in a touching manner.
  • the magnetic head distance caused by embedding the security thread in paper should not exceed a distance of 0.1 mm to the security thread.
  • the signals generated by the edge zones of the security thread according to the invention equipped with magnetic pigment are evaluated analogously as in the previous example.
  • the test devices preferably contain a plurality of sensor heads lying in line with the security thread to be tested, as indicated in FIG. 8. These sensor heads 43-45 are arranged on a common carrier 46 which is fastened vertically to the direction of the banknote (arrow). In connection with a determination of the position of the banknote by means of appropriate position sensors, it can thus be determined whether the security thread within the banknote runs exactly parallel to the short edges of the banknotes, because in this case all output signals appear at the same time.
  • a test device suitable for testing a security thread contains several sensor heads adapted to the different properties, the number of which is at least equal to the number of components.
  • Each of these sensors is designed to recognize a specific property. If the sensors are in line with the continuous security thread, the output signals of the sensors must appear at different but predetermined times. The structure, the positions of the various components and their spacing from one another can be determined by evaluating the temporal appearance of the various signals.
  • the fluorescent substances in the median and in the margins only differ in their different decay times, these times can be checked by displacing certain sensors laterally in the direction of the banknote. For example, a luminophore with a short decay time is selected for the median strip, whereas a luminophore with a long decay time is selected for the marginal strips.
  • the sensors 43 and 45 are then laterally offset such that the emission of the median strip has already subsided when the security thread is transported past these sensors.
  • the sensor 44 then delivers a signal which is a measure of the entire width of the security thread, while the sensors 43 and 45 deliver the signal shown in FIG. 7, from which the distance of the edge strips or the width of the central strip can be determined.
  • a checking and sorting device for the documents according to the invention e.g. also two or more test devices according to FIG. 8 are used, one device e.g. on the detection of visual, e.g. color design, the thread is aligned, while the other is tailored to the presence of non-visually visible physical properties of the different areas of the security thread.
  • the co-extruded or multi-component threads which are composed of individual threads, can possibly be used in a variety of ways after additional treatment (coating, vapor deposition, printing, etc.) documents are used. Since the individual components of the security thread according to the invention are preferably colored differently, it is advantageous to store the thread in such a way that it is at least partially directly visible.
  • the security threads can be introduced into the security paper according to the methods described in the documents DE-C-341 970 or DE-C-274 319.
  • ID cards which usually consist of several plastic layers
  • plastic materials are preferably used for the security thread, the softening points of which lie above those of the card layer materials.
  • the card layers can then, as is common practice, be fused together using heat and pressure without damaging the security thread.
  • the materials and the lamination process can be coordinated with one another in such a way that the thread softens only in the surface area during the lamination process and thus a firm connection between the thread and the adjacent plastic layers is achieved.

Abstract

In order to increase the protection of security documents such as ban notes, etc., against forgery, security threads are embedded in the document which have at least two areas extending in the longitudinal direction of the thread and differing in their physical properties. The thread is preferably a coextruded multicomponent synthetic thread whose individual components contain additives such as dyes or fluorescent substances and/or particles having electrical or magnetic properties. The testing of the authenticity of the security thread is directed toward the presence of these additives and their mutual geometrical distribution in certain areas of the security thread.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Sicherheitsdokument mit einem im Inneren des Dokuments eingelagerten Sicherheitsfaden, der visuell im Auf- und Durchlicht erkennbar ist und bestimmte physikalische Eigenschaften aufweist sowie Verfahren zur Herstellung und Prüfung des Sicherheitsdokuments und des Sicherheitsfadens.The invention relates to a security document with a security thread embedded in the inside of the document, which is visually recognizable in reflected and transmitted light and has certain physical properties, and methods for producing and checking the security document and the security thread.

Zur Verhinderung von Fälschungen ist es bekannt, Sicherheitsdokumente, wie z.B. Wertpapiere, Ausweiskarten etc., mit sogenannten Sicherheitsfäden auszustatten. Bei der Herstellung eines Wertpapiers werden diese Sicherheitsfäden während des Blattbildungsvorgangs in das Innere des Papierblatts eingebracht. Dabei wird der Faden üblicherweise so eingebettet, daß er vollständig von Papierfasern umgeben ist (GB-A-8242 (1839), DE-U-72 18 681).To prevent counterfeiting, it is known to use security documents such as To equip securities, ID cards etc. with so-called security threads. In the manufacture of a security, these security threads are introduced into the interior of the paper sheet during the sheet formation process. The thread is usually embedded so that it is completely surrounded by paper fibers (GB-A-8242 (1839), DE-U-72 18 681).

Es ist außerdem bekannt, das Wertpapier so zu präpieren oder den Faden so einzubetten, daß er partiell freiliegt und somit an diesen Stellen direkt visuell sichtbar bzw. zugänglich ist (DE-A-27 43 019). Die speziellen optischen Eigenschaften eines Sicherheitsfadens sind bei derartiger Einbettung besonders gut und einfach zu überprüfen.It is also known to prepare the security in such a way or to embed the thread in such a way that it is partially exposed and is thus directly visually visible or accessible at these points (DE-A-27 43 019). The special optical properties of a security thread can be checked particularly well and easily with such embedding.

Aus der DE-A-21 56 888 ist u.a. auch bekannt, Netze oder Einzelfäden aus thermoplastischem Material in Wertpapiere einzubringen. Man bedient sich dabei thermoplastischer Materialien, deren Schmelzpunkt unterhalb 160°C liegt. Da während der Fertigung des Papiers, z.B. bei der Trocknung, diese Temperaturen erreicht werden, schmelzen diese Thermoplaste, und die Netze reduzieren sich dabei zu einzelnen Inseln aus thermoplastischem Material, die fest mit der Papiersubstanz verbunden sind.From DE-A-21 56 888 i.a. also known to introduce nets or single threads of thermoplastic material in securities. Thermoplastic materials with a melting point below 160 ° C are used. Because during the manufacture of the paper, e.g. When drying, these temperatures are reached, these thermoplastics melt, and the nets are reduced to individual islands made of thermoplastic material, which are firmly connected to the paper substance.

Zur Feststellung der Echtheit eines mit einem Sicherheitsfaden ausgestatteten Wertpapiers wird das Papier üblicherweise durch Betrachtung im Auf- und Durchlicht auf das Vorhandensein des Sicherheitsfadens und dessen Lage im Papier geprüft. Aufgeklebte oder aufgemalte Sicherheitsfäden sind dabei sehr gut von echten bei der Papierherstellung eingebrachten Sicherheitsfäden zu unterschieden.In order to determine the authenticity of a security equipped with a security thread, the paper is usually checked for the presence and location of the security thread in reflected and transmitted light. Glued-on or painted-on security threads can be distinguished very well from real security threads introduced during paper production.

Bei Wertpapierfälschungen, bei denen der Sicherheitsfaden zwischen zwei fertige Papierlagen eingeklebt wird, entspricht der visuelle Eindruck unter Umständen zwar dem eines Wertpapiers mit einem in situ eingebrachten Sicherheitsfaden. Eine derartige Fälschung ist aber wegen der unterschiedlichen Papiereigenschaften (Steifigkeit, Auftrennfestigkeit etc.) und der daraus resulierenden abweichenden "Griffigkeit" von echten Banknoten leicht zu unterscheiden.In the case of counterfeit securities in which the security thread is glued between two finished layers of paper, the visual impression may correspond to that of a security with an in-situ security thread. However, such counterfeiting can easily be distinguished from real banknotes because of the different paper properties (rigidity, tear resistance, etc.) and the resulting deviating "grip".

Um Sicherheitsfäden auch maschinell prüfen zu können, ist es bekannt, Fäden mit bestimmten physikalischen Eigenschaften zu verwenden, aufgrund derer die Fäden in geeigneten Prüfvorrichtungen identifizierbar sind. Derartige Sicherheitsfäden sind z.B. Fäden mit bestimmten magnetischen, elektrischen oder fluoreszierenden Eigenschaften (DE-C-16 96 245, US-A-2,143,406).In order to also be able to test security threads mechanically, it is known to use threads with certain physical properties on the basis of which the threads can be identified in suitable test devices. Such security threads are e.g. Threads with certain magnetic, electrical or fluorescent properties (DE-C-16 96 245, US-A-2,143,406).

Aus der DE-A-27 54 267 ist ein Sicherheitspapier mit einem darin eingelagertem Sicherheitsfaden bekannt, der neben einem magnetischen Material mindestens eine weitere, ebenfalls maschinell prüfbare Substanz enthält, wie z.B. ein lumineszierendes Material, ein Röntgenstrahlabsorbens oder ein Metall. Diese verschiedenen Eigenschaften lassen sich dann in voneinander unabhängig durchführbaren Prüfungen feststellen. Diese Sicherheitsmerkmale können übereinanderliegend und in einem bestimmten Muster entlang des Sicherheitsfaders angebracht sein.DE-A-27 54 267 discloses a security paper with a security thread embedded therein which, in addition to a magnetic material, contains at least one further substance which can also be machine-checked, such as e.g. a luminescent material, an X-ray absorbent or a metal. These different properties can then be determined in tests that can be carried out independently of one another. These security features can be superimposed and attached in a certain pattern along the security fader.

Ein Sicherheitsfaden mit einem visuell prüfbaren Echtheitsmerkmal ist aus der EP-A-0 037 507 bekannt. Dieser bekannte Sicherheitsfaden wird durch Ziehen eines Metall-oder Kunststoffadens durch ein Kalibrierwerkzeug erzeugt, wobei durch die Form des Kalibrierwerkzeugs der Faden eine für das Werkzeug typische Querschnittsform und Oberflächenriffelierung erhält. Anhand dieser Konturen kann nach Einlagerung des Sicherheitsfadens in das Dokument der Faden identifiziert werden und damit die Echtheit des Dokuments festgestellt werden.A security thread with a visually verifiable authenticity feature is known from EP-A-0 037 507. This known security thread is generated by pulling a metal or plastic thread through a calibration tool, the shape of the calibration tool giving the thread a cross-sectional shape and surface corrugation typical of the tool. Using these contours, the thread can be identified after the security thread has been embedded in the document and the authenticity of the document can thus be ascertained.

Die Prüfung der bekannten Sicherheitsdokumente mit Sicherheitsfäden richtet sich daher üblicherweise auf eine visuelle und/oder maschinelle Prüfung, bei der geklärt wird, ob überhaupt ein Sicherheitsfaden eingelagert ist und gegebenenfalls im zweiten Schritt, ob dieser auch die geforderten physikalischen Eigenschaften aufweist.The checking of the known security documents with security threads is therefore usually directed to a visual and / or machine check, in which it is clarified whether a security thread is stored at all and, if necessary, in a second step whether this also has the required physical properties.

Da Sicherheitsfäden per Definition bereits ohne Hilfsmittel lokalisierbar sein sollen und gegebenenfalls unter Zerstörung des Wertpapiers von diesem relative einfach entfernt werden können, sind sie Analyseangriffen in besonderem Maße ausgesetzt. Um Fälschungen in verstärktem Maß entgegenzuwirken, sollte daher der Sicherheitsfaden neben einer besonderen physikalischen Eigenschaft und der aufwendigen Einbettung ins Papier wenn möglich auch selbst aufwendig herstellbar und für Fälscher schwer nachempfindbar sein. Trotz dieser Forderung sollte aber der wirtschaftlichen industriellen Fertigung derartiger Sicherheitsfäden nichts im Wege stehen.Since security threads should by definition already be able to be localized without aids and, if necessary, can be relatively easily removed from the security by destroying it, they are particularly exposed to analysis attacks. In order to counteract counterfeiting to an increased extent, the security thread should therefore, in addition to a special physical property and the complex embedding in the paper, if possible also be complex to produce and difficult to counterfeit for counterfeiters. Despite this requirement, nothing should stand in the way of the economical industrial production of such security threads.

Die Aufgabe dervorliegenden Erfindung besteht daher darin, ein Sicherheitsdokument mit einem Sicherheitsfaden zu schaffen, der - obwohl er industriell in großen Mengen wirtschaftlich herstellbar ist - neben den üblichen Prüfmöglichkeiten bezüglich weiterer fadenspezifischer kriterien überprüfbar ist, so daß die Nachbildung für Fälscher im erhöhten Maß erschwert wird.The object of the present invention is therefore to create a security document with a security thread which, although it can be economically produced in large quantities industrially, can be checked in addition to the usual testing options with regard to further thread-specific criteria, so that counterfeiting is made more difficult for counterfeiters .

Die Aufgabe wird durch die im Kennzeichen des Hauptanspruchs enthaltenen Merkmale gelöst.The object is achieved by the features contained in the characterizing part of the main claim.

Der Erfindung liegt der Gedanke zugrunde, einen Sicherheitsfaden zu schaffen, dessen Eiganschaften fest mit der Fadenstruktur und -erzeugung verbunden sind, so daß ein Fälscher beim Versuch diesen nachzubilden, gezwungen ist, auch auf die aufwendige, spezielle Herstellungstechnologien zur Erzeugung von Fäden zurückzugreifen.The invention is based on the idea of creating a security thread, the properties of which are firmly connected to the thread structure and generation, so that a counterfeiter when trying to emulate it is forced to resort to the complex, special manufacturing technologies for producing threads.

Der erfindungsgemäße Faden weist in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform zumindest drei längs des Fadens verlaufende, exakt parallel zueinander angeordnete Streifen auf, die sich in ihrem physikalischen Verhalten, wie z.B. in ihrer Farbe, ihrer fluoreszierenden oder magnetischen Eigenschaften, unterscheiden.The thread according to the invention has in one preferred embodiment at least three strips running along the thread, arranged exactly parallel to one another, which differ in their physical behavior, such as in their color, their fluorescent or magnetic properties.

Ein Dokument mit einem derartigen Sicherheitsfaden zeichnet sich deswegen durch eine hohe Fälschungssicherheit aus, da die Bereiche des Sicherheitsfadens mit den unterschiedlichen physikalischen Eigenschaften lokal getrennt in einer bestimmten geometrischen Zuordnung zueinanderliegen. Einem Fälscher stellen sich daher im wesentlichen drei Hürden, da er nun sowohl die verschiedenen physikalischen Eigenschaften nachzuahmen, als auch die exakte geometrische Zuordnung der Merkmale zueinander soweie die notwendige Einbettung im Papier zu erfüllen hat.A document with such a security thread is characterized by a high level of security against counterfeiting, since the areas of the security thread with the different physical properties are locally separated from one another in a specific geometric assignment. There are three main obstacles for a counterfeiter, since he has to imitate the different physical properties as well as the exact geometrical assignment of the features to each other and the necessary embedding in the paper.

Da die einzelnen Bereiche parallel zur Oberfläche des Dokuments liegen und somit einzeln in seriellen Folge durch Abtastung entlang einer Oberfläche des Dokuments detektiert werden können und der Abstand zwischen den einzelnen Bereichen eine exakte, konstant über den gesamten Faden verlaufende, Größe ist, können nun auch neben den physikalischen Eigenschaften, z.B. die Breite der einzelnen Bereiche und die Abstände zueinander, als meßtechnisch erfaßbare Prüfkriterien dienen. Durch entsprechende Kombination verschiedener Prüfkriterien, die auf die unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften und deren exakte geometrische Zuordnung basieren, kann bei vertretbarem Mehraufwand auf Seiten der Prüfeinrichtung der auf Seiten des Fälschers notwendige Mehraufwand auf ein Vielfaches erhöht werden.Since the individual areas are parallel to the surface of the document and can thus be individually detected in serial order by scanning along a surface of the document and the distance between the individual areas is an exact size that runs constantly over the entire thread, can now also be used the physical properties, e.g. the width of the individual areas and the distances from each other serve as test criteria that can be measured. By appropriately combining different test criteria, which are based on the different properties and their exact geometrical assignment, the additional effort required on the part of the counterfeiter can be increased to a multiple if the additional effort is justifiable on the part of the testing device.

Weiterhin ergeben sich für den Sicherheitsfaden besondere farbliche Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten, wodurch auch das optische Erscheinungsbild eines Wertpapiers sehr wesentlich beeinflußt werden kann. Wird ein derartiger Sicherheitsfaden z.B. in den jeweiligen Landesfarben längsgestreift in Banknotenpapier eingebracht, so erhält diese Banknote nicht nur durch das Druckbild, sondern nun auch durch das derart farbig gekennzeichnete Papier selbst eine nationale Prägung. Die streng kantenparallel verlaufende farbliche Kennzeichnung des Fadens gibt der Banknote außerdem ein ästetisch ansprechendes Erscheinungsbild.Furthermore, there are special color design options for the security thread, which can also have a very significant influence on the visual appearance of a security. If such a security thread is e.g. introduced in the respective national colors in a longitudinal stripe in banknote paper, this banknote is not only given a national embossment not only by the printed image but also by the paper so marked in color. The color coding of the thread, which runs strictly parallel to the edges, also gives the banknote an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Vorzugsweise werden für das erfindungsgemäße Sicherheitspapier Kunststoffäden verwendet, die nach der aus der Kunststoffverarbeitung bekannten Coextrusionstechnik hergestellt werden. Diese Technik gestattet es, einen aus mehreren Komponenten bestehenden Einzelfaden herzustellen, wobei die einzelnen Komponenten nebeneinander liegen und dieser Aufbau in seiner Geometrie über die gesamte Fadenlänge exakt konstant bleibt.Plastic threads are preferably used for the security paper according to the invention, which are produced by the coextrusion technique known from plastics processing. This technology allows a single thread consisting of several components to be produced, the individual components lying next to one another and this structure remaining exactly constant in its geometry over the entire length of the thread.

Die einzelnen Komponenten bestehen vorzugsweise aus dem gleichen Kunststoffmaterial, um eine Kräuselung des so hergestellten Fadens zu verhindern.The individual components preferably consist of the same plastic material in order to prevent crimping of the thread thus produced.

Unter Beimischung von Zusätzen können den einzelnen Komponenten bestimmte physikalische Eigenschaften verliehen werden. Derartige Zusätze können erfindungsgemäß Farbstoffe, Fluoreszenzstoffe, Partikel mit elektrischen oder magnetischen Eigenschaften etc. sein.With the addition of additives, the individual components can be given certain physical properties. According to the invention, such additives can be dyes, fluorescent substances, particles with electrical or magnetic properties, etc.

Die Coextrusionstechnik hat den Vorteil, daß hier quasi ein Einzelfaden hergestellt werden kann, obwohl er im Volumen mit verschiedenen Zustatzstoffen durchsetzt ist, die dem Faden z.B. bestimmte Farben und/oder andere physikalische Eigenschaften geben. Die in das Volumen in entsprechend hohen Konzentrationen einbringbaren Zusatzstoffe sind außerdem gezielt bestimmten Volumenbereichen zugeordnet. Ein derartiger Sicherheitfaden läßt sich daher sowohl vom geometrischen Aufbau als auch von der signalausbeute her stets eindeutig von z.B. lokal beschichteten Fäden unterscheiden.The advantage of coextrusion technology is that a single thread can be produced here, even though its volume is interspersed with various additives that e.g. give certain colors and / or other physical properties. The additives that can be introduced into the volume in correspondingly high concentrations are also specifically assigned to certain volume ranges. Such a security thread can therefore always be unambiguously both from the geometric structure and from the signal yield, e.g. from distinguish locally coated threads.

Eine Alternative zur Coextrusionstechnik besteht darin, zunächst separat extrudierte Einzelfäden mit den bestimmten physikalischen Eigenschaften herzustellen und diese vor Einbringung in das Papier oder das Dokument miteinander der zu verbinden. Bestehen alle Einzelfäden aus Kunststoff, so könnten sie - sofern die Schmelzpunkte der Kunststoffmaterialien nicht zu stark variieren - unter Wärme und Druck in einer speziellen Kaschieranlage ebenfalls fest miteinander verbunden werden.An alternative to the coextrusion technique is to first produce separately extruded individual threads with the specific physical properties and to connect them to one another before insertion into the paper or document. If all the individual threads are made of plastic, they could - provided that the melting points of the plastic materials do not vary too much - could also be firmly connected to one another under heat and pressure in a special laminating system.

Mit den o.g. Verfahren lassen sich extrem schmale Fäden (Bruchteile von einem Millimeter) herstellen, die lokal exakt getrennte Bereiche unterschiedlicher physikalischer Natgur aufweisen, bei denen sich die Bereiche zudem in einer fest vorgegebenen geometrischen Anordnung über die ganze Fadenlänge erstrecken.With the above Methods can be used to produce extremely narrow threads (fractions of a millimeter) that have locally exactly separated areas of different physical nature, in which the areas also extend in a fixed, predetermined geometric arrangement over the entire length of the thread.

Aufgrund der hohen Präzision und der möglichen geringen Fadenbreite ist die Herstellung mit einfachen Mitteln nicht möglich. Ein Fälscher ist daher zur Nachbildung dieser Fäden gezwungen, die finanziell aufwendige und viel know-how erfordernde Extrusionstechnik anzuwenden. Der Versuch, diese Fäden nachzubilden, kann weiter erschwert werden, wenn für die Einzelfäden eines zusammengesetzten Fadens bzw. die einzelnen Komponenten eines coextrudierten Fadens nicht handelsübliche Basismaterialien oder Zusätze verwendet werden.Due to the high precision and the possible small thread width, production with simple means is not possible. A counterfeiter is therefore forced to replicate these threads using the financially complex and much know-how required extrusion technology. The attempt to reproduce these threads can be made more difficult if base materials or additives which are not commercially available are used for the individual threads of a composite thread or the individual components of a coextruded thread.

Die erfindungsgemäßen Fäden werden vorzugsweise so in ein Dokument einebracht, daß sie zumindest partiell direkt visuell sichtbar sind. Bei Wertpapieren kann z.B. die Fadeneinführung in die Papiermasse bei der Herstellung so gesteuert werden, daß der Faden alternierend an der Oberfläche des fertigen Blatts zu liegen kommt. Ein entsprechendes Verfahren wird in der DE-C-341 970 beschrieben. Andere Verfahren, die das gleiche Ziel haben, werden in der eingangs zitierten DE-A-27 43 019 beschrieben.The threads according to the invention are preferably introduced into a document in such a way that they are at least partially directly visually visible. In the case of securities, e.g. the thread insertion into the pulp can be controlled during manufacture so that the thread comes to lie alternately on the surface of the finished sheet. A corresponding method is described in DE-C-341 970. Other processes that have the same goal are described in the above-cited DE-A-27 43 019.

Bei Ausweiskarten, die üblicherweise aus mehreren Schichten bestehen, wird der Faden vorzugsweise unter einer transparenten Deckschicht angeordnet.In the case of identity cards, which usually consist of several layers, the thread is preferably arranged under a transparent cover layer.

Bestehen die angrenzenden Schichten der Karte aus einem zum Kunststoffmaterial des Sicherheitsfadens artverwendten Material, so erreicht man beim Kaschiervorgang eine innige Verbindung zwischen dem Sicherheitsfaden und den benachbarten Schichten.Are the adjacent layers of the Card made of a material used for the plastic material of the security thread, so an intimate connection between the security thread and the adjacent layers is achieved during the lamination process.

Weitere Vorteile und vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche und Inhalt der nachfolgenden detaillierten Beschreibung des Erfindungsgegenstandes anhand der Figuren.Further advantages and advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the content of the following detailed description of the subject of the invention with reference to the figures.

Die Fig. zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Dokument in der Aufsicht,
  • Fig. 2 einen Schnitt durch das erfindungsgemäße Dokument entlang der Linie 2-2 der Fig. 1,
  • Fig. 3 ein Beispiel für einen Coextrusionskopf,
  • Fig. 4a-e Beispiele für verschiedene Querschnittsstrukturen erfindungsgemäßer Sicherheitsfäden,
  • Fig. 5 eine Kaschieranlage zur Herstellung erfindungsgemäßer Sicherheitsfäden,
  • Fig. 6 eine Prüfvorrichtung zur Echtheitserkennung eines erfindungsgemäßen Dokuments,
  • Fig. 7 ein Diagramm zum Verlauf des Prüfsignals,
  • Fig. 8 eine weiter vorteilhafte Ausführungsform einer Prüfvorrichtung,
  • Fig. 9 ein Prüfsignal bei Schräglagentransport.
The figures show:
  • 1 is a document according to the invention in supervision,
  • 2 shows a section through the document according to the invention along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,
  • 3 shows an example of a coextrusion head,
  • 4a-e examples of different cross-sectional structures of security threads according to the invention,
  • 5 shows a laminating system for producing security threads according to the invention,
  • 6 a test device for authenticity detection of a document according to the invention,
  • 7 shows a diagram of the course of the test signal,
  • 8 shows a further advantageous embodiment of a test device,
  • Fig. 9 shows a test signal during inclined position transport.

In der Fig. 1 ist ein Sicherheitsdokument 1 in Form einer Banknote gezeigt, das ein Druckbild 2 und ein unbedrucktes sogennantes Weißfeld 3 aufweist, in das überlicherweise ein Wasserzeichen eingebracht ist. Im Innern des Dokuments ist ein Sicherheitsfaden 4 eingelagert, der parallelel zur kürzeren Kante der Banknote verläuft.1 shows a security document 1 in the form of a banknote which has a printed image 2 and an unprinted so-called white field 3, into which a watermark is usually introduced. A security thread 4 is embedded in the interior of the document and runs parallel to the shorter edge of the banknote.

Erfindungsgemäß weist der Sicherheitsfaden mehrere sich über die gesamte Fadenlänge homogen erstreckende Bereiche auf, die sich in ihrem physikalischen Verhalten unterscheiden.According to the invention, the security thread has a plurality of regions which extend homogeneously over the entire length of the thread and which differ in their physical behavior.

In der Fig. 2 ist eine mögliche Querschnittsform eines in einem Wertpapier 5 eingebetteten Fadens 4 gezeigt (Schnittlinie 2-2 der Fig. 1). Der Faden besteht aus drei Komponenten A, B und C, die sich in ihren physikalischen Eigenschaften, z.B. bezüglich ihrer spektralen Remissions- bzw. Transmissionseigenschaften, fluoreszierender und/oder magnetischer Eigenschaften, unterscheiden. Die Komponenten A, B, C sind im Volumen des Sicherheitsfadens, d.h. in einer durch drucktechnische Mittel nicht nachbildbaren Konzentration, vorgesehen. Sie sind in scharf voneinander abgegrenzten längsparallelen Bereichen in eindeutiger und genau definierter Zuordnung zueinander angeordnet.FIG. 2 shows a possible cross-sectional shape of a thread 4 embedded in a security 5 (section line 2-2 of FIG. 1). The thread consists of three components A, B and C, which differ in their physical properties, e.g. differ with regard to their spectral reflectance or transmission properties, fluorescent and / or magnetic properties. Components A, B, C are in the volume of the security thread, i.e. in a concentration that cannot be reproduced by printing technology. They are arranged in sharply demarcated longitudinally parallel areas in a clear and precisely defined correlation to one another.

Derartige Fäden lassen sich vorzugsweise nach der aus der Kunststofftechnik bekannten Coextrusionstechnik herstellen ("Synthesefasern" Bela v. Falkai, Verlag Chemie 1982, Seiten 124-126).Such threads can preferably be produced using the coextrusion technique known from plastics technology (“synthetic fibers” Bela v. Falkai, Verlag Chemie 1982, pages 124-126).

In der fig. 3 ist schmatisch ein Extruderkopf für die Erzeugung eines in Fig. 2 gezeigten Trikomponentenfadens gezeigt. Über drei Kanäle 6a, b, c, werden dem Extruderkopf 7 unterschiedliche, durch Trennwände 11 getrennte, Kunststoffmaterialien 8, 9, 10, die mit unterschiedlichen Zusätzen vermengt sind, zugeführt. Die Kunststoffmaterialien liegen in den jeweiligen Vorratsbehältern auf die jeweilige Schmelztemperatur erhitzt im flüssigen Zustand vor. Unter Druckeinwirkung werden sie gleichzeitig aus den einzelnen Düsenbereichen gepreßt und im Berührungsbereich miteinander verschmolzen. Das Endprodukt ist ein einzelner Faden, der je nach Profil der Ausgangsdüse z.B. einen rechteckigen oder ovalen Querschnitt aufweist und im vorliegenden Beispiel aus drei verschiedenen Komponenten besteht, die nebeneinander angeordnet sind.In the fig. 3, an extruder head is schematically shown for producing a tricomponent thread shown in FIG. 2. Via three channels 6a, b, c, the extruder head 7 is supplied with different plastic materials 8, 9, 10 which are separated by partitions 11 and which are mixed with different additives. The plastic materials are in the respective storage containers heated to the respective melting temperature in the liquid state. Under pressure, they are pressed simultaneously from the individual nozzle areas and melted together in the contact area. The end product is a single thread which, depending on the profile of the outlet nozzle, e.g. has a rectangular or oval cross section and in the present example consists of three different components which are arranged next to one another.

Vorzugsweise werden für die Herstellung von Bi- und Mehrkomponentenfäden mit Seite an Seite-Anordnung Polymerpartner verwendet, die bei der für die Coextrusion notwendigen Temperatur dieselbe Schmelzviskosität besitzen sowie eine so hohe Affinität aufweiden, daß die Halftung der beiden Querschnittschälften ohne zusätzliche Maßnahmen gesichert ist. Den Basismaterialien für einen solchen Faden werden bereits die Füllstoffe, Farb-, Magnet-, Metall-Pigmente und/oder lösliche Farbstoffe beigemischt, um den einzelnen Komponenten die gewünschten physikalischen Eigenschaften zu geben. Der Mehrkomponentenfaden, der sich dann unmittelbar am Düsenkopf bildet, wird durch eine geeignete Abzugsgeschwindigkeit des Fadens aus dem Düsenkopf und einer darauffolgenden Kühlung soweit verfestigt, daß keine Verzüge im Muster auftreten und ein Ineinanderfließen der Komponenten auszuschließen ist. Die Abzugsgeschwindigkeit ist bekanntlich abhängig von der Art des Polymers, der Extrusionstemperatur, der Art der Düsengeometrie etc. und kann durch entsprechende Variation dieser Parameter geeignet gewählt werden.Polymer partners are preferably used for the production of bicomponent and multicomponent threads with side-by-side arrangement, which have the same melt viscosity at the temperature required for the coextrusion, and which have such a high affinity that the halving of the two cross-section shafts is ensured without additional measures. The fillers, dyes, magnetic, metal pigments and / or soluble dyes are already added to the base materials for such a thread in order to give the individual components the desired physical properties. The multicomponent thread, which then forms directly on the nozzle head, is solidified by a suitable withdrawal speed of the thread from the nozzle head and a subsequent cooling so that no distortions occur in the pattern and the components cannot flow into one another. As is known, the take-off speed depends on the type of polymer, the extrusion temperature, the type of nozzle geometry etc. and can be selected appropriately by varying these parameters accordingly.

Der Mehrkoponentenfaden kann auch nachträglich durch gezieltes Erwärmen wieder soweit erweicht werden bzw. die Abkühlung kann in einem bestimmten Stadium gezielt unterbrochen werden, daß er in andere Querschnittsformen, z.B. ausgehend von einem ovalen Querschnitt mit niedrigem Dicken-/Breitenverhältnis, zu einem flachen Band mit extremen Dicken-/Breitenverhältnis durch Kalandern verformt werden kann.The multi-component thread can also subsequently be softened again by targeted heating or the cooling can be interrupted at a certain stage in such a way that it changes into other cross-sectional shapes, e.g. starting from an oval cross-section with a low thickness / width ratio, can be deformed into a flat band with an extreme thickness / width ratio by calendering.

Bezüglich des Aufbaus und der Gestalt der Sicherheitsfäden ergibt sich eine Vielzahl von Kombinationsmöglichkeiten. In den Fig. 4a-e sind einige vorteilhafte Ausführungsformen gezeigt.With regard to the structure and shape of the security threads, there are a multitude of possible combinations. Some advantageous embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4a-e.

In Fig. 4a ist beispielsweise der Querschnitt eines Bikomponentenfadens dargestellt. Die Komponenten A und B sind unterschiedlich gefärbt, wiesen unterschiedliche magnetische oder auch fluoreszierende Eigenschaften auf.4a shows the cross section of a bicomponent thread, for example. Components A and B are colored differently and had different magnetic or fluorescent properties.

Die Fig. 4b zeigt einen DreikomponentenFaden, bei dem die Randstreifen die gleichen physikalischen Eigenschaften aufweisen. Der mittlere Streifen ist mit einer zu den Randstreifen meßbar kontrastierenden physikalischen Eigenschaft ausgestattet. Eine derartige ABA-Codierung kann ebenfalls zusätzlich zu den meßtechnisch erfaßbaren Eingenschaften derart eingefärbt sein, daß die Bereiche auch visuell gut unterschiedbar sind. Die Einfärbung der Bereiche kann sich dabei mit der Anordnung der physikalischen Eigenschaften decken, so daß bei einer ABA-Codierung z.B. die Einfärbungen Farbe 1/Farbe 2/Farbe 1 vorliegen. Die visuell erkennbare Einfärbung muß aber nicht zwangsläufig mit der physikalischen Kennzeichnung übereinstimmen. Ein Abweichen davon ist sogar besonders empfehlenswert, wenn die physikalischen Eigenschaften selbst visuell nicht überprüfbar, wie z.B. magnetisch, elektrisch leitfähig, unsichtbar fluoreszierend oder dergleichen, sind. Ein Fälscher würde nämlich hinter gleichen Farben gleiche physikalische Eigenschaften vermuten und den Faden dementsprechend nachbilden.4b shows a three-component thread in which the edge strips have the same physical properties. The middle strip is equipped with a physical property that is measurably contrasting with the edge strips. Such an ABA coding can also be used in addition to the properties that can be measured colors that the areas are also visually distinguishable. The coloring of the areas can coincide with the arrangement of the physical properties, so that with ABA coding, for example, the colors Color 1 / Color 2 / Color 1 are available. The visually recognizable coloring does not necessarily have to match the physical marking. A deviation from this is even particularly recommendable if the physical properties themselves cannot be checked visually, such as, for example, magnetic, electrically conductive, invisibly fluorescent or the like. A counterfeiter would assume the same physical properties behind the same colors and would simulate the thread accordingly.

In der Fig. 4c ist ein Dreikomponentenfaden gezeigt, bei dem sich alle drei Koponenten in ihrem physikalischen Verhalten unterschieden. Auch hier ist es möglich, zusätzlich zur farbilichen Gestaltung des Fadens die einzelnen Komponenten mit visuell nicht sichtbaren Eigenschaften zu versehen, um ihn mit einer weiteren maschinell prüfbaren Codierung auszustatten.4c shows a three-component thread in which all three components differ in their physical behavior. Here too, in addition to the colored design of the thread, it is possible to provide the individual components with properties that are not visually visible, in order to provide it with a further machine-checkable coding.

In der Fig. 4d ist ein Faden gezeigt, dessen äußere Komponenten sich aus zwei Lagen, z.B. unterschiedlich gefärbter Kunststoffschichten A und C zusammensetzen. Ist die Komponente A z.B. rot, die Komponente B weiß und die Komponente C gelb eingefärbt, so zeigt der Faden bei Betrachtung im Auflicht die Farbcodierung rot-weiß-gelb oder umgekehrt. Bei Betrachtung im Durchlicht hingegen ist die Farbcodierung orange-weiß-orange.In figure 4d a thread is shown, the outer components of which consist of two layers, e.g. Assemble differently colored plastic layers A and C. If component A is e.g. red, component B white and component C colored yellow, the thread shows the color coding red-white-yellow or vice versa when viewed in incident light. When viewed in transmitted light, however, the color coding is orange-white-orange.

Schließlich zeigt die Fig. 4e eine Fadenstruktur, bei der die innere Komponente B eine kreisförmigen Querschnitt aufweist. Der Zufluß der Komponente B in den Extruderausgang erfolgt dabei über eine Ringdüse. Hier, wie auch in den anderen Beispielen, ist es möglich, die Zuflußdüse für die mittlere Komponente beweglich zu gestalten. Führt diese während des Extrusionsvorgangs z.B. eine Pendelbewegung aus, so beschreibt die innere Komponente des Sicherheitsfadens 12 eine Schlangenlinie.Finally, FIG. 4e shows a thread structure in which the inner component B has a circular cross section. Component B flows into the extruder outlet via an annular nozzle. Here, as in the other examples, it is possible to make the inflow nozzle movable for the middle component. Does this lead e.g. during the extrusion process a pendulum movement, the inner component of the security thread 12 describes a serpentine line.

Eine Alternative zur Coextrusionstechnik besteht darin, zunächst mehrere Einzelfäden herzustellen und diese anschließend zu einem Mehrkomponentenfaden zu verbinden. Auch auf diese Weise lassen sich Fäden produzieren, die die obengenannten Eigenschaften bezüglich der geometrischen Abmaße und des unterschiedlichen physikalischen Verhaltens aufweisen und sich somit für die Herstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitspapiers eignen.An alternative to the coextrusion technique is to first produce several individual threads and then combine them to form a multi-component thread. It is also possible in this way to produce threads which have the abovementioned properties with regard to the geometric dimensions and the different physical behavior and are therefore suitable for producing a security paper according to the invention.

Vorzugsweise werden für die Einzelfäden wiederum extrudierte Kunststoffäden verwendet, die je nach Auflage mit bestimmten Füllstoffen, Farb-, Magnet- Metall-Pigmenten und/oder löslichen Farbstoffen versetzt sind. Wie bei der Coextrusionstechnik ergibt sich auch hier eine Vielzahl von Kombinationsmöglichkeiten bezüglich der Zusammenstellung der Fäden aus mehreren unterchiedlich präparierten Einzelfäden. Aufbauten, wie sie in Fig. 4a-d gezeigt sind, sind auch mit dieser Herstellungstechnik möglich.In turn, extruded plastic threads are preferably used for the individual threads, which are mixed with certain fillers, dyes, magnetic metal pigments and / or soluble dyes depending on the edition. As with the coextrusion technique, there are a multitude of possible combinations with regard to the composition of the threads from several differently prepared individual threads. Structures as shown in Fig. 4a-d are also possible with this manufacturing technique.

In der Fig. 5 ist eine Vorrichtung gezeigt, mit Hilfe derer gleichzeitig mehrere aus unterschliedlichen Einzelfäden bestehende Mehrkomponentenfäden hergstellt werden können.5 shows a device by means of which a plurality of multi-component threads consisting of different individual threads can be produced at the same time.

Die verschiedenfarbigen Komponenten des zu produzierenden Sicherheitsfadens werden als Einzelfäden 13, 14 und 15 mit rundem bzw. ovalem Querschnitt durch Extrusion separat hergestellt und auf Spulen gewickelt. Das Zusammenführen der Fäden zu einem z.B. mehrfarbigen Band erfolgt in der Weise, daß die einzelnen Fäden durch Führungsleisten 16 gezogen werden und auf einer Trägerfolie 17, einem über Umlenkrollen 18 laufenden Endlosband mittels Haftkleber fixiert werden. Wichtig dabei ist, daß die Einzelfäden parallel auf die Trägerfolie auflaufen und berührend auf ihr fixiert werden. Die Verbindung der einzelnen Fäden zu einem mehrfarbigen Band erfolgt durch Kaschieren in einer entsprechenden Kaschiervorrichtung 20 bei erhöhter Temperatur, wobei die nebeneinander liegenden verschiedenen Einzelfadensätze durch Trennbänder 19 mit wesentlich höherem Erweichungspunkt als die zu erzeugenden mehrkomponentigen Sicherheitsfäden voneinander isoliert sind. Die gleichen thermischen Eigenschaften wie die Trennbänder hat sinnvollerweise auch die Trägerfolie aufzuweisen. Auf diese Art hergestellte Sicherheitsfäden lassen sich nach dem Kaschieren von der Trägerfolie abziehen und separat aufgespulen.The different colored components of the security thread to be produced are produced as individual threads 13, 14 and 15 with a round or oval cross section separately by extrusion and wound on spools. Merging the threads into e.g. Multi-colored tape is carried out in such a way that the individual threads are pulled through guide strips 16 and fixed on a carrier film 17, an endless belt running over deflection rollers 18, by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive. It is important that the individual threads run parallel to the carrier film and are touchingly fixed on it. The connection of the individual threads to form a multicolored band is carried out by lamination in a corresponding laminating device 20 at elevated temperature, the various individual thread sets lying next to one another being insulated from one another by separating bands 19 with a significantly higher softening point than the multicomponent security threads to be produced. The carrier film also has to have the same thermal properties as the separating tapes. Security threads produced in this way can be removed from the carrier film after lamination and wound up separately.

Als Trägerfolie und Trennbänder eignen sich Kunststoffe mit hohem Erweichungspunkt und geringer Affinität zu den verwendeten Einzelfäden, wie z.B. Teflon@ Hostafan,5 usw.Plastics with a high softening point and low affinity for the individual threads used, such as e.g. Teflon @ Hostafan, 5 etc.

Die Fäden werden bevorzugt aus Polymeren hergestellt, die untereinander eine hohe Affinität aufweisen und sich durch einen niedrigen Erweichungspunkt auszeichnen, wie z.B. Copolymere auf der Basis von Polyamiden, Akrylaten und Polyäthylenen.The threads are preferably made from polymers that have a high affinity for one another and are characterized by a low softening point, such as e.g. Copolymers based on polyamides, acrylates and polyethylenes.

Bestehen die Einzelfäden aus nichtkaschierbaren Materialien, so ist es möglich, diese Fäden oder zumindest die später innen zu liegenden kommenden Fäden mit einer Klebstoffschicht zu versehen und dann miteinander zu verbinden.If the individual threads are made of non-laminatable materials, it is possible to provide these threads or at least the threads to come later to be inside with an adhesive layer and then connect them to one another.

Im folgenden werden Beispiele für mögliche unterschiedliche Dotierungen der einzelnen Volumenbereiche von beispielsweise Dreikomponentenfaden gegeben.Examples of possible different doping of the individual volume regions of, for example, three-component threads are given below.

Beispiel 1example 1

Das Polymergemisch, z.B. co-polymerisiertes Polyamid "Akulon°" der Firma Akzoplastikswird auf drei Extruder verteilt und das Granulat aufgeschmolzen. Den Schmelzen der später äußeren Komponenten des Fadens mischt man jeweils drei Gewichtsprozent von Europium-Tris-(dibenzoylmethan) derart zu, daß es sich in der Polyamidschmelze auflöst und darin somit homogen verteilt.The polymer blend, e.g. co-polymerized polyamide "Akulon °" from Akzoplastiks is divided into three extruders and the granules are melted. The melts of the later external components of the thread are mixed with three percent by weight of europium tris (dibenzoylmethane) in such a way that it dissolves in the polyamide melt and is thus homogeneously distributed therein.

Nach der Extrusion der Mehrkomponentenfäden erhält man einen Sicherheitsfaden, dessen beide Randstreifen bei Anregung unter UV-Beleuchtung rot fluoreszieren, während der Mittelstreifen keine Fluoreszenz aufzeigt. Darüber hinaus können die einzelnen Fadensegmente mit sichtbaren Farbstoffen bzw. Pigmenten angefärbt werden, wobei nur sichergestellt werden muß, daß der verwendete Farbstoff im Bereich der Fluoreszenz-Emissionslinie transparent ist.After extrusion of the multi-component thread a security thread is obtained, the two edge strips of which fluoresce red when excited under UV illumination, while the central strip shows no fluorescence. In addition, the individual thread segments can be dyed with visible dyes or pigments, it only being necessary to ensure that the dye used is transparent in the region of the fluorescence emission line.

Beispiel 2Example 2

Man verfährt wie in Beispiel 1 beschreiben, nur daß in diesem Fall zwei Segmente des Fadens mit verschiedenen Merkmalsstoffen ausgestattet werden. Als erste Kodierung verwendet man z.B. 3% Nilblau aus der Reihe der Oxazinfarbstoffe (Firma Eastmen, Flukka) und als zweite Kodierungskomponente Lumilux° CDEK80/24 der Firme Riedel de Haen in einer Konzentration von 4%.The procedure is as described in Example 1, except that in this case two segments of the thread are equipped with different feature substances. The first coding is e.g. 3% Nile blue from the series of oxazine dyes (Eastmen, Flukka) and as a second coding component Lumilux ° CDEK80 / 24 from Riedel de Haen in a concentration of 4%.

Man erhält so z.B. einen Faden, dessen beide Randstreifen je nach Anregung unterschiedliche Fluoreszenzen aufweist. Bei Anregung mit sichtbarem Licht bewirkt Nilblau eine Fluoreszenz im nahen Infrarotgebiet, während Anregung im UV-Bereich eine grüne Fluoreszenz der zweiten Kodierungskomponenten bewirkt.So you get e.g. a thread, the two edge strips of which have different fluorescence depending on the excitation. When excited with visible light, Nilblau causes fluorescence in the near infrared region, while excitation in the UV range causes green fluorescence of the second coding components.

Beispiel 3Example 3

Man verfährt wie in Beispiel 1 beschreiben, nur daß in diesem Fall alle drei Segmente des Fadens eine Kodierung erhalten.The procedure is as described in Example 1, except that in this case all three segments of the thread are coded.

Die beiden Randstreifen werden analog Beispiel 1 mit einem Gewichtsprozent Europium-Tris(Thenoyltrifluraceton) versetzt und der Mittelstreifen mit fünf Gewichtsprozent Lumogen® hellgelb LT (BASF). Nach der Extrusion erhält man einen Faden, der unter UV-Beleuchtung eine starke gelbe Fluoreszenz über die ganze Breite aufweist. Die rote Fluoreszenz der beiden Randstreifen wird vom menschlichen Auge nicht wahrgenommen, kann aber durch einen entsprechenden Sensor nachgewiesen werden.Analogously to Example 1, the two edge strips are mixed with a weight percent of europium tris (thenoyltrifluracetone) and the middle strip with five weight percent Lumogen ® light yellow LT (BASF). After the extrusion, a thread is obtained which has a strong yellow fluorescence over the entire width under UV illumination. The red fluorescence of the two edge strips is not perceived by the human eye, but can be detected by an appropriate sensor.

Beispiel 4Example 4

Man verfährt wie in Beispiel 1 beschrieben, jedoch anstelle der zugemischten Europiumverbindung treten fünf Gewichtsprozent Magnetpigment Nr. 8200 von Bayer, welches den Polymergemischen zugefügt wird, die die beiden äußeren Extruderdüsen beliefern.The procedure is as described in Example 1, but instead of the admixed europium compound, five percent by weight magnetic pigment No. 8200 from Bayer is used, which is added to the polymer mixtures which supply the two outer extruder nozzles.

Man erhält somit einen Mehrkoponentenfaden, dessen äußere Randstreifen magnetisch sind. Neben der magnetischen Codierung können auch hier die einzelnen Fadensegmente mit sichtbaren Farbstoffen bzw. Pigmenten angefärbt werden.A multi-component thread is thus obtained, the outer edge strips of which are magnetic. In addition to the magnetic coding, the individual thread segments can also be colored with visible dyes or pigments.

Neben den genannten Beispielen ist es z.B. möglich, die Randstreifen eines dreikomponentigen Fadens mit einem Fluoreszenzstoff zu dotieren, der bei UV-Anregung eine Emission im visuellen Bereich aufweist, die exakt im Anregungsspektrum der Fluoreszenzstoffe des Mittelstreifens liegt, dessen Emission jedoch z.B. im IR-Bereich meßbar ist. Bei der Prüfung ist darauf zu achten, daß außer dem für die Fluoreszenzanregung benötigten UV-Lichtes jedes Fremdlicht, das zur Anregung der Mittelstreifen beitragen könnte, vermieden wird, so daß der Mittelbereich des Sicherheitsfadens nur mit Licht bestrahlt wird, das von den Randstreifen erzeugt wird. Eine Fluoreszenzemission in dem Mittelstreifen kann bei derartiger Prüfung nur von den Randstreifen angeregt sein, was eine Bestätigung der geforderten Stoffzusammensetzung bzw. der gewünschten Fluoreszenzeigenschaften des Sicherheitsfadens ist.In addition to the examples mentioned, it is e.g. it is possible to dope the edge strips of a three-component thread with a fluorescent substance which, when excited by UV, has an emission in the visual range which lies exactly in the excitation spectrum of the fluorescent substances of the central strip, but whose emission e.g. is measurable in the IR range. During the test, care must be taken to ensure that, in addition to the UV light required for fluorescence excitation, any extraneous light that could contribute to the excitation of the median strips is avoided, so that the central region of the security thread is only irradiated with light that is generated by the marginal strips . A fluorescence emission in the median strip can only be stimulated by the edge strips in such a test, which is a confirmation of the required material composition or the desired fluorescence properties of the security thread.

Für die beschreibenen gegenseitigen Fluoreszenzanregungen ist eine gute optische Kopplung zwischen den einzelnen Komponenten notwendig, da die für Anregung des zweiten Fluoreszenzstoffes benötigte Fluoreszensemission des ersten Stoffes in der Regel sehr gering ist.A good optical coupling between the individual components is necessary for the described mutual fluorescence excitations, since the fluorescence emission of the first substance required for excitation of the second fluorescent substance is generally very low.

Coextrudierte Fäden zeichnen sich wegen der innigen Verbindung ohne zusätzliche Bindemittel durch eine sehr gute optische Kopplung zwischen den einzelnen Komponenten aus, daß sich gerade diese Fäden zur Realisierung der obengenannten Beispiele sehr gut eignen. Bei auf andere Weise hergestellten Sicherheitsfaden fehlt diese innige Kopplung, wodurch selbst bei Verwendung der richtigen Lumiphore der erwartete Erfolg ausbleibt.Because of the intimate connection without additional binders, coextruded threads are distinguished by a very good optical coupling between the individual components, that these threads are particularly suitable for realizing the above-mentioned examples. With security threads produced in another way, this intimate coupling is missing, which means that even if the correct Lumiphore is used, the expected success is not achieved.

Das erfindungsgemäße Sicherheitsdokument (Banknote, Ausweiskarte oder dergleichen) kann bezüglich des Sicherheitsfadens, wie bereits angedeutet, auf vielfache Weise auf seine Echtheit bzw. Originalität geprüft werden.The security document according to the invention (banknote, ID card or the like) can be checked for authenticity or originality in many ways with regard to the security thread, as already indicated.

Die Fig. 6 zeigt in schematischer Form ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Prüfvorrichtung, mit der eine Prüfung des im Beispiel 1 beschriebenen Fadens möglich ist. Gemäß Beislpiel 1 handelt es sich um einen Dreikomponentenfaden, dessen Randstreifen europiumaktivierte Chelate enthalten und dessen Mittelzone nicht aktiv ist.6 shows, in schematic form, a preferred exemplary embodiment of a test device with which a test of the thread described in Example 1 is possible. According to example 1, it is a three-component thread, the edge strips of which contain europium-activated chelates and the middle zone of which is not active.

Das mit konstanter Gewschwindigkeit an der Prüfvorrichtung vorbeigeführte, den Sicherheitsfaden 4 enthaltende Dokument 37 (Banknote), wird von zwei UV-Röhrenlampen 38 mit Schwarzglaskolben (z.B. Sylvania F4T5BLB) beleuchtet, wobei die aktivierten Zonen des Sicherheitsfadens zur Lumineszenz angeregt werden. Die Reflektoren 39 dienen zur Verstärkung der anregenden Strahlungsintensität und zur Abschirmung der Lampenstrahlung von den weiteren Komponenten 40-42.The document 37 (banknote) containing the security thread 4 and passed the test device at a constant speed is illuminated by two UV tube lamps 38 with black glass bulbs (e.g. Sylvania F4T5BLB), the activated zones of the security thread being excited to luminescence. The reflectors 39 serve to amplify the stimulating radiation intensity and to shield the lamp radiation from the further components 40-42.

Die Probenebene wird durch ein Objektiv 40 (z.B. Spindler & Hoyer; f = 20 mm, 0 10 mm) im Verhältnis 1:10 vergrößert auf eine streifenförmige ca. 1 mm breite Siliziumzelle 42 (z.B. Hamamatsu S875-16R) abgebildet. Damit hat das Nachweissystem in Laufrichtung der Probe eine Auflösung von etwa 0,1 mm.The sample plane is magnified 1:10 by a lens 40 (e.g. Spindler &Hoyer; f = 20 mm, 0 10 mm) onto a strip-shaped silicon cell 42 (e.g. Hamamatsu S875-16R). The detection system thus has a resolution of approximately 0.1 mm in the direction of movement of the sample.

Die Lumineszenzstrahlung des Sicherheitsfadens fällt durch ein schmalbandiges optisches Filter (Interferenzfilter) 41. Mit dessen Durchlaßbereich von 605 nm bis 625 nm und einer Blockung der spektralen Randbereiche von 200 nm bis 1200 nm wird die Empfindlichkeit der optischen Anordnung auf den schmalen Bereich der Europiumemissionslinie beschränkt, so daß die Umlichtempfindlichkeit weitgehend eliminiert wird.The luminescent radiation of the security thread falls through a narrow-band optical filter (interference filter) 41. With its pass band from 605 nm to 625 nm and a blocking of the spectral border areas from 200 nm to 1200 nm, the sensitivity of the optical arrangement becomes narrow of the Europium emission line, so that the sensitivity to ambient light is largely eliminated.

Fig. 7 zeigt den im Sensor 42 empfangenen zeitlichen Verlauf dieser Emissionsintensität. Mit Hilfe des Photodetektors 42 wird die beim Durchgang durch die Prüfvorrichtung entstehende Emission eines Sicherheitsfadens, der beispielsweise 0,8 mm breit ist und dessen 0,2 mm breite Randzonen (Europiumchelat) detektiert. Der zeitliche Abstant t, der beiden "Peaks" beträgt 0,6 mm dividiert durch die Laufgeschwindigkeit der Banknote.7 shows the time profile of this emission intensity received in the sensor 42. With the aid of the photodetector 42, the emission of a security thread which occurs when passing through the test device and is, for example, 0.8 mm wide and whose 0.2 mm wide edge zones (europium chelate) is detected. The time interval t of the two "peaks" is 0.6 mm divided by the running speed of the banknote.

Damit dienen als Größen für die Belegung der Echtheit der Sicherheitsfäden sowohl die speziellen physikalischen (fluoreszierenden) Eigenschaften, als auch das gezielte, lokale Vorliegen dieser Eigenschaften in bestimmten Bereichen und der Abstand zwischen diesen Bereichen.Thus, the special physical (fluorescent) properties as well as the targeted, local presence of these properties in certain areas and the distance between these areas serve as parameters for the proof of the authenticity of the security threads.

Für die Prüfung der in den Beispielen 2 und 3 gezeigten Ausführungsformen ist die Anreggungslichtquelle bzw. die Detektoroptik den jeweiligen speziellen Fluoreszenzeigenschaften anzupassen.To test the embodiments shown in Examples 2 and 3, the excitation light source or the detector optics must be adapted to the respective special fluorescence properties.

Zur Prüfung des in Beispiel 4 beschreibenen magnetischen Sicherheitsfadens durchläuft das Dokument zunächst eine Magnetisierungsstation und wird dann an einem Magnetkopf vorbeigeführt. Dieser Magnetkopf, der ähnlich wie ein Tonbandmagnetkopf aufgebaut ist, hat eine Spaltbreite von ca. 0,05 mm. Man erhält mit einem solchen Magnetkopf ein höheres Signal als mit Originaltonköpfen, die einen zehnmal kleineren Spalt haben.To check the magnetic security thread described in Example 4, the document first passes through a magnetization station and is then guided past a magnetic head. This magnetic head, which is constructed similarly to a tape magnetic head, has a gap width of approx. 0.05 mm. A higher signal is obtained with such a magnetic head than with original sound heads that have a gap ten times smaller.

Eine Dokument mit dem eingelagerten Sicherheitsfaden wird an dem Magnetkopf vorzugsweise berührend vorbeigeführt. Der durch die Einbettung des Sicherheitsfadens in Papier hervorgerufene Magnetkopfabstand sollte einen Abstand zum Sicherheitsfaden von 0,1 mm nicht übersteigen. Die von den mit Magnetpigment ausgestatteten Randzonen des erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitsfadens erzeugten Signale werden analog wie im vorherigen Beispiel ausgewertet.A document with the embedded security thread is guided past the magnetic head, preferably in a touching manner. The magnetic head distance caused by embedding the security thread in paper should not exceed a distance of 0.1 mm to the security thread. The signals generated by the edge zones of the security thread according to the invention equipped with magnetic pigment are evaluated analogously as in the previous example.

Vorzugsweise enthalten die Prüfvorrichtungen mehrere in einer Linie mit dem zu prüfenden Sicherheitsfaden liegende Sensorköpfe, wie in Fig. 8 angedeutet. Diese Sensorköpfe 43-45 sind auf einem gemeinsamen Träger 46 angeordnet, der vertikal zur Banknotenlaufrichtung (Pfeil) befestigt ist. Im Zusammenhang mit einer Ermittlung der Lage der Banknote mittels entsprechender Lagesensoren kann damit festgestellt werden, ob der Sicherheitsfaden innerhalb der Banknote exakt parallel zu den kurzen Kanten der Banknoten verläuft, denn in diesen Fall erscheinen alle Ausgangssignale zum gleichen Zeitpunkt.The test devices preferably contain a plurality of sensor heads lying in line with the security thread to be tested, as indicated in FIG. 8. These sensor heads 43-45 are arranged on a common carrier 46 which is fastened vertically to the direction of the banknote (arrow). In connection with a determination of the position of the banknote by means of appropriate position sensors, it can thus be determined whether the security thread within the banknote runs exactly parallel to the short edges of the banknotes, because in this case all output signals appear at the same time.

Bei einem Transport der Banknote in Schräglage erscheinen die Ausgangssignale der einzelnen Sensoren zeitversetzt (Fig. 9). Eine dadurch bedingte verfälschte Abstandsmessung - der zeitliche Abstand T zwischen den Meßsignalen ist größer und damit auch der daraus ermittelte geometrische Abstand - kann durch eine Korrelation des gemessenen Abstandwertes mit den Daten a, b der zeitlichen Versetzung korrigiert werden.When the banknote is transported in an inclined position, the output signals of the individual sensors appear with a time delay (FIG. 9). A falsified distance measurement caused thereby - the time interval T between the measurement signals is larger and thus also the geometric distance determined therefrom - can be corrected by correlating the measured distance value with the data a, b of the time offset.

Eine für die Prüfung eines Sicherheitsfadens, dessen Komponenten verschiedene physikalische Eigenschaften besitzen, geeignete Prüfvorrichtung enthält mehrere den unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften angepaßte Sensorköpfe, deren Anzahl zumindest gleich der Zahl der Kompontenten ist.A test device suitable for testing a security thread, the components of which have different physical properties, contains several sensor heads adapted to the different properties, the number of which is at least equal to the number of components.

Jeder dieser Sensoren ist dabei auf die Erkennung einer bestimmten Eigenschaft ausgerichtet. Liegen die Sensoren auf einer Linie mit dem durchlaufenden Sicherheitsfaden, so müssen die Ausgangssignale der Sensoren in unterschiedlichen, aber vorbestimmten Zeitpunkten erscheinen. Über die Auswertung des zeitlichen Erscheinens der verschiedenen Signale lassen sich der Aufbau, die Lagen der verschiedenen Komponenten und deren Abstand voneinander bestimmen.Each of these sensors is designed to recognize a specific property. If the sensors are in line with the continuous security thread, the output signals of the sensors must appear at different but predetermined times. The structure, the positions of the various components and their spacing from one another can be determined by evaluating the temporal appearance of the various signals.

Soll z.B. ein dreikomponentiger Sicherheitsfaden, dessen Randbereiche rot fluoreszieren, der Mittelbereich jedoch gelb, gemäß Beispiel 5, so ist es z.B. vorteilhaft, die in der Fig. 8 gezeigten Sensoren 43 und 45 auf die Erkennung der roten Fluoreszenz abzustimmen, während der Sensor 44 die gelbe Fluoreszenz detektiert. Neben der bereits erwähnten Abstandsmessung zwischen den Randstreifen kann damit auch die spezielle Fluoreszenz des Mittelstreifens geprüft werden.Should e.g. a three-component security thread, the edge areas of which fluoresce red, but the middle area yellow, according to Example 5, it is e.g. advantageous to match the sensors 43 and 45 shown in FIG. 8 to the detection of the red fluorescence, while the sensor 44 detects the yellow fluorescence. In addition to the distance measurement between the edge strips already mentioned, the special fluorescence of the center strip can also be checked.

Unterscheiden sich die Fluoreszenzstoffe im Mittelstreifen und in den Randstreifen lediglich in ihren unterschiedlichen Abklingzeiten, so können diese Zeiten durch eine seitliche Versetzung bestimmter Sensoren in Banknotenlaufrichtung geprüft werden. Zum Beispiel wird für den Mittelstreifen ein Luminophor mit einer kurzen Abklingzeit gewählt, für die Randstreifen dagegen ein Luminophor mit einer langen Abklingzeit. In der Prüfvorrichtung nach Fig. 8 werden dann die Sensoren 43 und 45 derart seitlich versetzt, daß die Emission des Mittelstreifens bereits abgeklungen ist, wenn der Sicherheitsfaden an diesen Sensoren vorbeitransportiert wird. Der Sensor 44 liefert dann ein Signal, das ein Maß für die gesamte Breite des Sicherheitsfadens ist, während die Sensoren 43 und 45 das in Fig. 7 gezeigte signal liefern, aus dem der Abstand der Randstreifen bzw. die Breite des Mittelstreifens bestimmbar ist.If the fluorescent substances in the median and in the margins only differ in their different decay times, these times can be checked by displacing certain sensors laterally in the direction of the banknote. For example, a luminophore with a short decay time is selected for the median strip, whereas a luminophore with a long decay time is selected for the marginal strips. In the test device according to FIG. 8, the sensors 43 and 45 are then laterally offset such that the emission of the median strip has already subsided when the security thread is transported past these sensors. The sensor 44 then delivers a signal which is a measure of the entire width of the security thread, while the sensors 43 and 45 deliver the signal shown in FIG. 7, from which the distance of the edge strips or the width of the central strip can be determined.

In einer Prüf und Sortiervorrichtung für die erfindungsgemäßen Dokumente können z.B. auch zwei oder mehr Prüfvorrichtungen gemäß Fig. 8 eingesetzt werden, wobei eine Vorrichtung z.B. auf die Erkennung der visuellen, z.B. farblichen Gestaltung, des Fadens ausgerichtet ist, während die andere auf das Vorliegen nicht visuell sichtbarer physikalischer Eigenschaften der verschiedenen Bereiche des Sicherheitsfadens abgestimmt ist.In a checking and sorting device for the documents according to the invention e.g. also two or more test devices according to FIG. 8 are used, one device e.g. on the detection of visual, e.g. color design, the thread is aligned, while the other is tailored to the presence of non-visually visible physical properties of the different areas of the security thread.

Die coextrudierten oder aus Einzelfäden zusammengesetzten Mehrkomponentenfäden können eventuell nach einer zusätzlichen Weiterbehandlung (Beschichten, Bedampfen, Bedrukken etc.) auf vielfältige Weise in Sicherheitsdokumente eingesetzt werden. Da die einzelnen Komponenten des erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitsfadens vorzugsweise unterschiedlich gefärbt sind, ist es vorteilhaft, den Faden so einzulagern, daß er zumindest partiell direkt sichtbar ist. Die Einbringung der Sicherheitsfäden in das Sicherheitspapier kann dabei nach den in den Druckschriften DE-C-341 970 oder DE-C-274 319 beschriebenen Verfahren erfolgen.The co-extruded or multi-component threads, which are composed of individual threads, can possibly be used in a variety of ways after additional treatment (coating, vapor deposition, printing, etc.) documents are used. Since the individual components of the security thread according to the invention are preferably colored differently, it is advantageous to store the thread in such a way that it is at least partially directly visible. The security threads can be introduced into the security paper according to the methods described in the documents DE-C-341 970 or DE-C-274 319.

Bei Ausweiskarten, die meist aus mehreren Kunststoffschichten bestehen, bietet es sich an, den Faden unter einer transparenten Deckschicht einzulagen, so daß er über seine ganze Länge voll sichtbar ist. Für den Sicherheitsfaden werden vorzugsweise Kunststoffmaterialien verwendet, deren Erweichungspunkte über denen der Kartenschichtmaterialien liegen. Die Kartenschichten können dann, wie allgemein üblich, unter Anwendung von Wärme und Druck miteinander verschmolzen werden, ohne den Sicherheitsfaden zu beschädigen.With ID cards, which usually consist of several plastic layers, it is advisable to insert the thread under a transparent cover layer so that it is fully visible over its entire length. Plastic materials are preferably used for the security thread, the softening points of which lie above those of the card layer materials. The card layers can then, as is common practice, be fused together using heat and pressure without damaging the security thread.

Ohne Beeinträchtigung der erfindungsgemäßen Eigenschaften des Sicherheitsfadens können die Materialien und der Kaschiervorgang so aufeinander abgestimmt werden, daß der Faden beim Kaschiervorgang lediglich im Oberflächenbereich erweicht und damit eine feste Verbindung zwischen dem Faden und den angrenzenden Kunststoffschichten erzielt wird.Without impairing the properties of the security thread according to the invention, the materials and the lamination process can be coordinated with one another in such a way that the thread softens only in the surface area during the lamination process and thus a firm connection between the thread and the adjacent plastic layers is achieved.

Zur Erhöhung der Fälschungssicherheit von Kunststoffkarten ist es bekannt, in diese Karten ein sicherheitstechnisch hochwertiges Wertpapierinlett einzubringen. Unter Verwendung des erfindungsgemäßen Wertpapiers mit einem eingelagerten Mehrkomponentenfaden läßt sich auch bei dieser Anordnung die Fälschungssicherheit noch weiter erhöhen.In order to increase the security against counterfeiting of plastic cards, it is known to insert a security-related high-quality security insert into these cards. Using the security according to the invention with an embedded multi-component thread, the security against forgery can be increased even further with this arrangement.

Claims (20)

1. Security document with a security thread embedded in the interior of the document, the thread being recognisable visually in incident and transmitted light and having at least two directly mutually adjacent regions extending in the direction of the length of the thread, which regions, by virtue of the composition of the material, have different physical characteristics, the regions extending over the whole length of the thread, characterised in that the regions are arranged next to one another in the plane of the security document and their geometric disposition is recognisable and/or measurable in a non-descructive manner.
2. Security document according to Claim 1 characterised in that the regions have a different sepctral reflection/transmission ability.
3. Security document according to Claim 1 characterised in that the regions have different fluorescent characteristics.
4. Security document according to Claim 1 characterised in that the regions have different magnetic and/or electrical characteristics.
5. Security document according to Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the regions are distinguished by visually recognisable and non-visually recognisable physical characteristics.
6. Security document according to Claim 3 characterised in that at least two directly adjacent regions contain fluorescent materials, the emitted light from the fluorescent material of one region exciting the fluorescent material of the adjacent region.
7. Security document according to Claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the security thread comprises three regions extending in the direction of the length of the thread, the outer regions having at least one physical characteristic differing from the central region.
8. Security document according to Claim 7 characterised in that the outer regions have the same physical characteristic.
9. Security document according to Claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the security thread is a multi-component plastics thread produced by means of a known co-extrusion technique.
10. Security document according to Claim 1 to 10 characterised in that the security thread comprises several individual threads permanently joined together.
11. Security document according to Claim 10 characterised in that the individual threads are extruded plastics threads.
12. Security document according to Claims 9 or 10 characterised in that the individual components of the multi-component thread comprise a polymer or mixture of polymers which are provided with additives producing different predetermined physical characteristics.
13. Security document according to Claim 1 characterised in that the security thread is introduced into the document in such a way that it is at least partially directly visible.
14. Security document according to Claim 13 characterised in that the security thread lies partially at the surface of the security document.
15. Security document according to Claim 13 characterised in that the security thread is embedded in the security document below a transparent covering film.
16. Method of manufacturing a security document according to Claim 10 or 11 characterised by the following steps:
the manufacture of a number of individual threads,
the placing of the individual threads in direct contact on a conveyor belt,
the transport of these threads on the conveyor belt into a laminating installation,
the welding of these individual threads together to form a multi-component thread,
the embedding of these threads in the security document.
17. Method of testing a security document according to Claim 1 characterised in that:
the security document is carried at constant speed past a testing device, the document being so arranged that the security thread lies perpendicular to the direction of travel,
with the aid of one or more sensors the physical characteristic of individual regions and their occurrence in time is determined by passage through the testing device and
on the basis of the time interval between the test signals coming from the different regions the geometical disposition of the regions on the security thread is determined and compared with a predetermined value.
18. Method according to Claim 17 characterised in that the physical characteristics of the different regions are determined with the aid of a number of sensors which are arranged in a line parallel to the security thread.
19. Method according to Claim 18 characterised in that by means of a position detector the position of the security document as it passes through the testing device is determined, that with the aid of at least two sensors which are adapted to recognise the same physical characteristic the presence of the predetermined physical characteristics is determined, that the appearance in time of the test signals delivered by these sensors is compared with predetermined values in relation to the signals delivered by the position detector.
20. Method according to Claim 18 characterised in that with the aid of at least two sensors which are adapted to recognise the same physical characteristic the presence of the predetermined physical characteristic is determined, on the occurrence of a discrepancy in the time sequence of the test signals coming from these sensors a correction signal is produced and this signal is included in the determination of the geometrical arrangement of the regions on the security thread.
EP85116406A 1984-12-21 1985-12-20 Security document incorporating a security thread, and process for manufacturing and checking the authenticity of the security document Expired - Lifetime EP0185396B1 (en)

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AT85116406T ATE55433T1 (en) 1984-12-21 1985-12-20 SECURITY DOCUMENT WITH SECURITY THREAD EMBEDDED THEREIN AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION AND AUTHENTICATION OF THE SECURITY DOCUMENT.

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DE19843446861 DE3446861A1 (en) 1984-12-21 1984-12-21 SECURITY DOCUMENT WITH THE SECURITY THREAD STORED IN IT AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION AND AUTHENTICITY TESTING OF THE SECURITY DOCUMENT
DE3446861 1984-12-21

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EP0185396A2 EP0185396A2 (en) 1986-06-25
EP0185396A3 EP0185396A3 (en) 1987-05-27
EP0185396B1 true EP0185396B1 (en) 1990-08-08

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EP (1) EP0185396B1 (en)
JP (2) JPS61152494A (en)
AT (1) ATE55433T1 (en)
DE (2) DE3446861A1 (en)
ES (1) ES8701617A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES8701617A1 (en) 1987-01-01
JPH0480840B2 (en) 1992-12-21
EP0185396A2 (en) 1986-06-25
DE3579132D1 (en) 1990-09-13
ES550208A0 (en) 1987-01-01
EP0185396A3 (en) 1987-05-27
US4756557A (en) 1988-07-12
ATE55433T1 (en) 1990-08-15
DE3446861A1 (en) 1986-07-10
JPS61152494A (en) 1986-07-11
JPH05212996A (en) 1993-08-24
JPH0694235B2 (en) 1994-11-24

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